One holiday after another...

Do you know what holiday it is today?

No? I bet mom does.

Today is Texas Independence Day. And no my dears, it's not made up.

The history is as follows:

The Republic of Texas was a country that existed from 1836 to 1845. Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico as a result of the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present state of Texas, as well as parts of present-day NM, OK, KS, CO, and WY.

The first Texas provisional government was formed at San Felipe de Austin on Nov. 7, 1835. This council passed a declaration of support for the 1824 Mexican constitution, and appointed a governor and other officials. This council stopped short of declaring Texan independence. The first declaration of independence for modern Texas, by both Anglo-Texian settlers and local Tejanos, was signed in Goliad on Dec. 20. The Convention of 1836 was convened at Washington-on-the-Brazos, and the Texas Declaration of Independence was enacted on March 2, 1836, effectively creating the Republic of Texas.

Four days later, the thirteen-day Siege of the Alamo ended as Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna's forces defeated the Alamo's approximately 183 defenders. The Alamo was outside the then-sleepy town that would eventually become the center of the city of San Antonio. Remember the Alamo! became the battle cry of the Texas Revolution that most remember, but in fact this was a shortened version of the actual cry, which was "Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad." (At Goliad, Santa Anna had Colonel James Fannin and 341 of his men—who had surrendered at the Battle of Coleto—marched one mile out of town and then massacred.)

The Battle of San Jacinto was fought on April 21, 1836, near the present-day city of Houston. The battlefield sits next to the Houston ship channel which was built in early 1900's. The Battleship Texas is moored here, alongside the more-than-500 foot tall San Jacinto Monument, built in 1936.

In 1836 General Santa Anna commanded a force of 1,600 men, of which more than 600 were killed and the rest captured by Texas General Sam Houston's army of 800 Texans, while only nine Texans died. Santa Anna was captured the next day dressed as a poor Mexican peasant. During this battle Sam Houston was wounded in his leg, but would recover. Houston also lost control of his men as anger over the Alamo and Goliad overcame his troops; they showed no mercy for those 18 minutes it took to destroy Santa Anna's army. Sam Houston, however, spared Santa Anna's life, and forced him to sign letters to his two remaining armies instructing them to leave Texas. This decisive battle resulted in Texas's independence from Mexico.

Sam Houston, a native of Virginia, was President of the Republic of Texas for two separate terms, 1836–1838 and 1841–1844. Houston also served as U.S. Senator from Texas following annexation of the State on December 29, 1845. He also was Governor of the state of Texas from 1859 to 1861. Sam Houston was removed as Governor of Texas in 1861 due to his refusal to pledge allegiance to the Confederacy, and stood against Texas leaving the Union. Sam Houston has so far been the only man in history to be Governor of two states (TX and TN) and the President of a foreign country, Texas.

So there you have it. Texas had its independence and even had some good Virginia ties. So go out tonight and kick up your boots and celebrate the short-lived republic of Texas.

And for those Baylor Bears out there, fling some green and gold while you're at it - for it was under the Republic of Texas Baylor was founded in 1845. Sic 'em Bears.